Dog sandwich

Girls photo shoot with Higgy.

Bob.

Blue Flames

Harper and Lucy's second season of soccer. They play in a league where the 4 year olds play 3 on 3. There are no "out balls" just "new balls" when it goes out of bounds. I think it keeps them engaged. They really improved over the season. And they have very different styles.

Harper is fast and can dribble the ball from one end to the other. She gets a little wobbly at times and I always wonder if she will actually kick it in the goal. She also does a little skip jump when she's kicking the ball sometimes.

Lucy is more deliberate, but determined and has good instincts for positioning. She doesn't back down against (usually) bigger kids. They both love playing, which makes momma happy. I guess I'm officially a soccer mom as long as they both want to keep playing.

Typical Week

This is how our Fall weeks have gone pretty much.

Monday - no school. Hang around in pjs. Go to run errands or grocery store. In the evening they have dance.
Tuesday - school. Slack afternoon.
Wednesday - school. Afternoon choir, dinner at Covenant and "What a Wednesday"
Thursday - school. gymnastics. soccer.
Friday - school. phew - Happy Hour.
Saturday - soccer. birthday parties.
Sunday - church. birthday parties.

Wash and repeat.

Spooky stuff

I've been pretty slack on the Halloween preparations this year. Evidence: I have no costume and the girls don't "really" either. I figure we have enough dress up to cover any craving for the FOUR Halloween-themed parties and events we are attending between now and the 31st.

We did do some creative manicures.





and worked on their scariest faces.

Suppress

Sometimes its hard not to bust up laughing at the innocent yet hilarious things the girls say at times.. But giving into the giggles will cause much more heartache down the line

Take the following conversation.

Me: We need to drive down Hanock.
Harper: Hancock. That's like Hank, but with a cock in it.
Me: (don't laugh, don't laugh) yes, I guess it is.

Happy 4th

Fairy Tale

I couldn't resist the local toy store's fairy party. We got to make our own pixies and got faces and nails painted. Extreme girliness.

It was kind of a chaotic day. We rushed from church to a friend's pool birthday party to this fairy event. They take it in stride now. In fact, they are quite difficult to tire out. We can swim, play and learn all day long and they still will be giggling in their room until 9:30.

This summer we have been loading up on camps (going to post on those soon). One day this week we will have camp 9-3, swimming at 3:45 and gymnastics at 4:45. I'm curious to see how they will be at the end of that day. I think they will still have energy to be hyper at bedtime.

This picture reminds me that a got a little emo about my girls on this day. I think it coincided with another mom's comment that she has to hunt down her 7 year olds to spend time with them. One day they won't let me take them to fairy parties. They won't be upset if I go to work and not spend all day with them like I'm supposed to . "Skip work mommy. I didn't see you the other day and its NOT FAIR."

I know I should live in the moment. And this moment is good. This age is good and fun. We can really communicate and they say funny and insightful things. They are love bugs. They love us and each other. They are nice to their friends and each other we have less drama.

I just want to spend as much time with them as I can while they love face painting, storytime, princesses, dress up, gymnastics, ballet, babydolls, crafts, playdates and just spending time with Momma and Daddy.

Lifeguards

We've been spending a good % of our weeks in the pool or water of some sort (its been over 100 for about a week now) and the girls are getting to watch lifeguards in their natural habitat.

The other day they were playing lifeguard. I overheard Lucy saying "is anyone running or throwing the babies into the pool??" I guess that's what they are there for.

just needs a whistle and some shades

2 Things I'm Good For

Lucy was priding herself in getting ready all by herself tonight, including turning off and draining the shower, and brushing her hair.

She does still need me for two things though - putting sunscreen on her back and driving. Phew, I'm still needed for at least 12 years.

Sugar Sugar

The girls had their dance recital last weekend. A tap number to "Sugar Sugar" by the Archies.

Snoutxsnoutwest

Murdoch looks regal. The girls, not so much. We should have done the pictures first and not after 30 minutes of walking around in 100 degrees and bouncing in the bounce house.

Safety School

The best conversations happen in the minivan. Most of the kids in Harper and Lucy's class are graduating to Kindergarten, and they are a little in awe of Highland Park (mainly because they serve chocolate chip cookies and chocolate milk at their new student visitation day).

Harper was going on about Audrey, her classmate who would always be one grade ahead, but they would still be friends, even in college.

Me: So, you think you'll go to the same college as Audrey?
H: I don't know, where can I go to college?
Me: There are lots of choices. UVA, William & Mary, Harvard.
H: I think Harvard.
Me: You'll have to work really hard. Get good grades, play the violin, play sports and be the president of the chess club.
H: I want to go to UVA.

Oh my love. Later she said Lucy could go to Harvard. Or Hardvard as we are now calling it. I'm going to have to foster determination in this little lady. Her sister has plenty to go around.

bizarro Earth Day

We spent Earth Day (and good Friday) in a not a very eco-conscious way. We burned fuel to go up to the zoo. Hardly live wild and free. I think this is our last zoo trip until 1. it rains or 2. fall.

Equal time

photo shoot of Harper.

Lucy wouldn't participate. Probably because she was feeling poorly. We went to mexican breakfast after churcha and she wouldn't eat and was vomiting hours later with a 24 hour bug. Daddy was out of town and thankfully Harper and I didn't get it. Phew.

Cardboard boxes are the new Mattel

Why bother buying toys. The girls have been playing with these costco boxes for the last 30 minutes with no end in sight.


The boxes have been cars with horse trailers. A space ship. A robot head (with unsmiling faces drawing on either end).

Vintage girl

She looks so 40s...



She must have liked what she saw in the mirror, because shortly after she moved to my bedroom bench where she could watch herself in the mirror (standing on bench and then tried sitting on the footstool) and sang what started out as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" but quickly morphed into something about fairies, and then she "flew" off the bench.

Self-esteem

Today as we were discussing why Daniel's babysitter and not mother (an oncologist) takes him to school every day.

Me: His mommy has a really important job. She helps people that are really sick.
Harper: Oh. So for your job, you just go and listen to what you are supposed to do? (her face said it all, you are lame)

Ouch. She also told the babysitter that I am "kind of old and have lots of molds and freckles." I'm feeling so beautiful and competent. On the flip side I often hear how pretty I am or how cute my outfit is. Lovely.

Meanwhile Lucy has supreme self-confidence. Just yesterday after I told them they would be starting soccer she said "I am so good at soccer. I'm awesome." Keep it up girls, soon iCarly and Hannah Montana mean girls will try to tear you down. Stay strong.

San Antonio

Presidents day meant no school, so Ruth (gus and truman)and we decided to take a fied trip to San Antonio. I took it a step further and suggested we go down on Sunday night and stay at Hill Country Hyatt. There was noone there, we got a great rate, the kids got to swim, AND they enthusiastically went into Camp Hyatt. In fact, they told us to go away when we picked them up before they finished their "treasure boxes".




this was pretty amazing. she couldn't reach the bars, but shimmied her way up there and made it all the way across.



The next day we visited the zoo and the Witte Museum. It was a fun day, but whew, exhausting. Not helped by the fact they were up until 10 pm. the night before.

I think the way to go is hit the museums first and then stay and relax at the resort. You care a lot less if someone is grumpy and demanding the 6th snack of the day at the pool than at the rhino exhibit. Plus, there is always Camp Hyatt and a spa for the mommies.

The hippo: only time I've seen one underwater.


Crocodile


Green Mambo


Termites


baby elephant


Feeding parakeets - she was so brave when this one landed on her head. I'm just happy it held itss bowels.


The much anticipated train to nowhere


Exhausted





Celebratory ice cream

Driving Miss Crazy

This was the conversation in the backseat as we were leaving the vet on Monday...

Lucy: I want to be a veterinarian when I grow up.
Harper: I want to be a dog.
Lucy: Harper, you can't be a dog. You have to be something that is a grown up.
Harper: I want to be a puppy.
Lucy: No no, you have to do something in human form.

She stuck to the dog bit for quite a while.